LOS ANGELES.–Facing a contentious confirmation hearing, 42-yar-old self-made billionaire, former fighter pilot and SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman deal with questions about a conflict of interest with his close relationship with 53-year-old Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk has fallen into disfavor in Congress because of his work on 78-year-old President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE]. Isaacman would replace 82-year-old former Rep. Bill Nelson (D-Fl.) whose term as NASA administrator ran from 2021 to 2025. Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Committee don’t want to admit all the glaring failures under Nelson’s term as administrator, including spending $10 billion on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that malfunctioned on its first flight. Isaacman was asked if he spoke recently to Elon Musk.
Musk’s reputation in Congress has all been wrecked because of his controversial work on DOGE, regardless of what SpaceX did to rescue the U.S. manned space program. When Nelson took over NASA, Musk has already flown his first flight to the International Space Station. Yet the question kept pouring in questioning his relations to Musk. “Not at all, senator,” Isaacman said, trying to allay any concerns about his past contact with Musk. “I want to absolutely be clear,” Isaacman said. “My loyalty is to this nation, the space agency and their world changing mission.” “They are the contractors, NASA is the customer,” Isaacman said. “They work for us, not the other way around,” stating clearly that his loyalty lies with NASA not with any one contractor. Yet legitimate questions remain about NASA’s Artemis program trying to fly astronauts back to the moon.
Isaacman told the Senate confirmation hearing he had faith in NASA’s Artemis program even though Musk had called it a “distraction” and “extremely inefficient.” Members of Congress don’t like to give SpaceX any credit for saving the U.S. manned space program after the Space Shuttle retired in 2011. NASA had no replacement vehicle at the time, pretending it was OK to contract out for a new spacecraft and rocket system to ferry astronauts to the ISS. NASA had paid an average one-way seat of $90 million before Musk’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket because active in 2020. Boeing, worked feverishly with $10 billion of NASA’s money to produce a defective spacecraft, not fit to fly. Whether Boeing fixes its Starliner spacecraft is anyone’s guess. Most likely, with enough time, Boeing will fix the system. Meanwhile real questions remain about the Artemis program.
Musk has been critical of Artemis because he sees no real progress to date and would prefer to let him work on Starship’s new spacecraft capable of going to Mars. Musk has no problem working on a lunar landing at SpaceX, if the Artemis project looks like it’s behind schedule or not happening at all. Isaacman was asked about the Aretemis and Space Launch System [SLS]. When asked about Artemis, Isaacman chose his words carefully. “Senator, this the current plan. I do believe it’s the best and fastest way to get there,” saying he was open to other ways to get to the moon if the Artemis spacecraft didn’t get off the ground. “I don’t think it’s the long-term way to get to and from the Moon and to Mars with great frequency,” Isaacman said, echoing the views of Musk. Musk’s work on DOGE should have no bearing on whatever happens at NASA.
Isaacman conceded in his hearing that this is NASA’s best plan now but it could very well be superseded by a more efficient spacecraft or launch system developed by SpaceX in the future. Too much baggage from Musk’s work at DOGE has got in the way of his work developing the best spacecraft and rocket system to travel to the moon and mars. Whether the U.S. space program gets consumed with its next moon project is anyone’s guess. SpaceX has no problem in switching gears from its emphasis on Mars to work with Isaacman in development the best way to get back to the moon. NASA hasn’t built a successful spacecraft since the Space Shuttle launched in 1981. Isaacman disagrees that the old ISS should be scrapped for a new station in the future, continuing to do appropriate repairs to keep the current ISS performing the necessary research without interruption.
Isaacman would be the first NASA administrator who has no college degree, showing that a self-made entrepreneur, jet pilot and astronaut could make it a different way. NASA’s first director [1958-1961] under President Dwight D. Eisenhower T. Keith Glennan had a degree in engineering from Yale. His successor James E. Webb [1961-1968] had a law degree from George Washington University. So, hiring Isaacman would be an unprecedented even, knowing his educational background. “We need to squeeze every big of life that is remaining on the International Space Station.” “So, we can crack the code on the space economy and better hand off those responsibilities to the commercial industry,” Isaacman said, apparently satisfying senators on both sides of the aisle. Whatever Isaacman’s past dealing with Musk have no bearing on his credentials to serve as NASA administrator.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
